Taipei Times
Date: Jan 17, 2019
By: Stacy Hsu  /  Staff reporter

Former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday said he would be willing to visit China

after a travel ban imposed on him is lifted in May, and maintained his support for the so-called “1992 consensus,” calling it a “life-saving elixir.”

Ma made the comments during a morning interview with UFO Network radio host Tang Hsiang-lung (唐湘龍), who asked what kind of a role the former president intends to play in cross-strait politics and the discussion of unification with China.

“Since I am already out of office, I have nothing to do with the administration or [the president’s] duties. That said, if there are key issues that concern the survival of the nation, I must not stay silent,” Ma said.

Asked if has plans to travel to China after the three-year travel ban expires on May 20, Ma said that although he did not yet have such a plan, he does not rule out the possibility of making the trip.    [FULL  STORY]

The conference is followed by a three-day tour of the Tsou indigenous villages in Alishan

Taiwan News
Date: 2019/01/16
By: Teng Pei-ju, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Experts and industry representatives from 17 countries and areas are gathering Saturday at Alishan National Scenic Area of Chiayi County to discuss the promotion of ecotourism and sustainable development of indigenous cultures.

The annual conference of the Asian Ecotourism Network (AEN), a regional association endorsing ecotourism, will open this Saturday, followed by a three-day tour of the Tsou indigenous villages in Alishan from Jan. 21 to 23.

The conference aims to bring about exchanges and collaboration among governments and industry representatives in Taiwan with their counterparts in neighboring countries on affairs ranging from ecotourism, the preservation of indigenous cultures, and environmental protection, said the organizer, the Taiwan Ecotourism Association (TEA), which became a member of AEN in 2016.

It will also give Taiwan an opportunity to exhibit its resources and services regarding ecotourism, thus attracting more foreigners to travel to Taiwan, added TEA.
[FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/01/16
By: Chen Wei-ting and William Yen

Taipei, Jan. 16 (CNA) Two imported cases of measles have been confirmed in Taiwan, the first in the country this year, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said Wednesday.

The two people tested positive for measles on Wednesday after returning from trips to Vietnam and the Philippines, respectively, the CDC said in a statement.

The two men, both from northern Taiwan, started experiencing symptoms of measles on Jan. 7 and Jan. 8, respectively, and broke out in a rash on Jan. 11, the CDC said.

As of press time Wednesday, one man was at home resting, while the other was still undergoing treatment at a hospital, the CDC said.    [FULL  STORY]

France24.com 
Date: 15/01/2019

A senior Chinese military official warned the US Navy Tuesday against any “interference” in support of Taiwan’s independence, saying that Beijing would defend its claim to the island “at any cost”.

General Li Zuocheng, a member of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks during a meeting in Beijing with Admiral John Richardson, the chief of US naval operations.

China sees Taiwan as part of its territory to be reunified, despite the two sides being ruled separately since they split in 1949 after a civil war won by Mao Zedong’s communists.

The self-ruled island has its own currency, flag and government, but is not recognised as an independent state by the UN.

Beijing has said it will not hesitate to use force if Taipei formally declares independence, or in the case of external intervention — including by the United States, the island’s most powerful unofficial ally.    [FULL  STORY]

Envelopes with missile image on sale to the public

Taiwan News
Date: 2019/01/15
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Taiwan’s National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST, 中科院) was so proud of its new missile, the Sky Bow III (天弓三型), that it put its image on its red envelopes for the Lunar New Year, the Liberty Times reported Tuesday.

At the Lunar New Year, people hand out money in red envelopes, which often carry images related to the New Year, such as the relevant animal from the Chinese zodiac.

In this case, Taiwan’s major state-run military technology developer chose to promote its own product, printing envelopes showing three different missile types.

On Tuesday, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on Tuesday visited a military base on the east coast where she inspected the new surface-to-air missile, praising the product for being locally made.    [FULL  STORY]

A daily breakdown of Taiwan’s top stories and why they matter.

The News Lens
Date: 2019/01/15
By: TNL Daily News

EU group backs Taiwan, slams Xi

The European Parliament-Taiwan Friendship Group called the “one country, two systems” formula proposed for Taiwan by Chinese President Xi Jinping a failure yesterday in a letter authored to Federica Mogherini, the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security.

The letter expressed grave concern over Xi’s Jan. 2 speech calling for unification with Taiwan, saying it posed a danger to regional peace, according to the Taipei Representative Office in the EU and Belgium.

The letter was signed by group chairman Werner Langen, vice chairman Andrey Kovatchev and former vice chairs Hans van Baalen and Laima Andrikiene. All four are current EU parliamentarians.

It comes amid a wave of international support for Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文)’s rebuke of Xi’s “one country, two systems” offer and her refusal to recognize the so-called “1992 Consensus.”    [FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International 
Date: 14 January, 2019
By: Natalie Tso

Processed meat should be eaten in moderation (Pic from Taipei Customs Office)
Winter is here and many people in Taiwan enjoy eating hotpots, which usually means consuming a lot of meat. Doctors advise the public to eat red and processed meat in moderation and to get check ups for colon cancer.

In the winter, people often like to warm themselves up with meals like lamb hotpots.  The lamb may be delicious but doctors say don’t eat too much because red meat like lamb, pork and beef can be carcinogenic.

Dr. Kang Rong Cheng say red and processed meats, when they are cooked at high temperatures, give off nitric acid and carcinogens. He says if you crave red meat, don’t eat more than 500 grams of red meat or processed meat like hot dogs and sausages. That’s about the size of your palm or two 8oz servings of beef.

If you have symptoms of colon cancer, you need to see the doctor. This includes blood in your stools, having to go to the bathroom often, feeling bloated, stomachaches, a change in bathroom habits or trying to relieve yourself often with nothing coming out.
[FULL  STORY]